by Camas Frank

Arroyo Grande Community Hospital hosts its 9th Annual Comedy Night fundraiser at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 30 at the Thousand Hills Ranch in Pismo Beach. Tickets are $125 a person and $1,250 for a table of 10, or $1,500 for a table sponsorship that includes a reserved table of 10, name recognition in the program, and signage at the event. The Rhinestone Cowboy-themed night will feature Country Music TV’s Cowboy Bill Martin, plenty of food and beer from local restaurants and a live auction with 15-20 high-end items, plus dancing to the Rock-a-Billy Legends. Proceeds benefit the hospital’s Legacy Campaign to expand the Emergency Department, the latest MRI technology, and enhancements to the Acute Rehabilitation Center. For sponsorship information or to register for the event see: www.supportarroyogrande.org. 

The SLO Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon welcoming  Euro Elite Basketball Academy. Establish ed last year in SLO, the Academy offers year-round basketball programs such as youth teams, training camps and clinics for players of all ages from beginners to high-level athletes, and competes in local and regional leagues. “Focusing on the finest European fundamentals and maximizing players’ efficiency through applying different and correct basketball methodologies on players’ of different ages, we differ from the competition,” they said. For more information see: euroelite.org, or call 858-8674.

Verdin Marketing won eight, American Advertising Awards at the 2016 Coastal California American Advertising Awards competition. Verdin was the only SLO County firm to receive that many. “We take a strategic approach to our work and it pays off,” said Mary Verdin. “These campaigns were successful in reaching the goals set by our clients, which is our first objective. Getting this industry recognition is icing on the cake.” The ADDYs judge work in local AAF Club competitions, with over 40,000 entries submitted every year.

Rachell Newburn, marketing consultant at Collaboration Business Consulting and vice president of public relations for SLO Toastmasters Club 83, has earned her Advanced Leadership Award Bronze from Toastmasters International. Through the strenuous public speaking program, Newburn strengthened her skills as an, “expert communicator and leader.” To be eligible for an ALB Award, a Toastmaster member must have achieved a Competent Leader Award, a Competent Communicator Award, served for at least six months as a club officer, participated in a district-sponsored officer training program and conducted multiple presentations from The Leadership Excellence Series. Less than 2-percent of Toastmasters are distinguished with both the Competent Communicator and Competent Leader Awards. “As a professional, I strive toward becoming a strong communicator and leader to my clients and my community, which ultimately can inspire and motivate change,” said Newburn. SLO Toastmasters, Club 83, is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills and part of the worldwide network of Toastmasters International. Learn more at: www.slotoastmasters.org.

Visit San Luis Obispo County, the City of San Luis Obispo Tourism Business Improvement District, and California Highway 1 Discovery Route received the “Visit California Poppy Award” for efforts in marketing, public relations and community service. Tourism organizations are honored and selected by a panel of industry marketing professionals in 10 categories including Best Overall Marketing Program, Best Digital Campaign, Best Social Media Campaign, Best Public Relations Campaign and Commitment to Community. “San Luis Obispo County was well represented at the Poppy Awards,” said Chuck Davison, president and CEO of Visit San Luis Obispo County. “For our county to receive three out of 10 statewide tourism awards is quite an achievement and really speaks to how far tourism promotion has come in San Luis Obispo County. The honor is amplified because we are being recognized by our peers.” The campaign was funded and overseen by the City of San Luis Obispo’s Tourism Business Improvement District and San Luis Obispo’s hotels saw a 12.3% increase in transient occupancy taxes collected and paid to the City.

Tractor Supply Company has “officially” started construction a new location in San Luis Obispo, the company’s 38th store location in California. The site is at 120 Tank Farm Rd., and will employ an estimated 15 retail workers. The store will be approximately 19,097 square feet, including sales floor and support service space. A fenced exterior yard will be used for storage and items like fencing, sprayers and livestock equipment. A completion date is tentatively set for mid-June.

Halter Ranch Vineyard opened a new tasting room, located across the covered bridge and next to the winery in Pas Robles. The new tasting room features floor to ceiling windows with sweeping views. The design is crafted after local cabins and barns and incorporates cedar siding and rusted metal roofing. The tasting room is open daily, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a variety of tours and tasting experiences available by appointment. The new building replaced the old tasting room next to the historic Victorian guesthouse on Adelaida Road. The new tasting room is just over 6,000 s.f. and was built by J.W. Design & Construction. Look for a grand opening in early May.

Along Comes Hope, a charity for children with cancer is launching a “Colors of Hope” coloring book journal. The book is designed to be a creative outlet through the use of art, poetry and color for children of all ages. It’s a compilation of various artists, including some locals, who strive to “share hope and inspiration” to children fighting cancer. “I was amazed,” Jenny Mulks Wieneke, CEO and founder of Along Comes Hope said, “at the amount of support we received after we put out the social media request for artists to contribute their drawings. A group of strangers; professional artists, teachers, students, doodlers and executives became a Community with our hearts leading the way for a common cause, kids with cancer.” The book launched on March 10 during a special event at the SLO Country Club.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County has announced Pacific Western Bank as the Presenting Sponsor for its “Big Event” fundraiser for the sixth consecutive year. The bank’s $6,000 donation brings the total to $30,000 in support of the agency’s mentoring programs. The ‘Big Taste at the Big Event’ is set for June 18 at Thousand Hills Ranch in Pismo Beach. Big Brothers’ development director, Patty Carpenter said, “Relationships like these are the core of our agency’s success and we are grateful for the continued support of Pacific Western Bank.”

Pat Pemberton, formerly an award-winning reporter for the San Luis Obispo Tribune, has joined Barnett Cox & Associates to head the firm’s social media and content development services. “Pat excels at telling stories in ways that are irresistible, and always faithful to the truth,” said Maggie Cox, CEO of BCA. Pemberton and his family have lived on the Central Coast since 1999.

The San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority or RTA has rolled out four, new, coach-style, luxury buses into its system and will use them on the longer, express bus routes. These Motor Coach Industries built, Over-the-Road coaches have high back, reclining seats and a ‘Greyhound’ bus style interior versus the standard “transit” style bus. They carry 57 passengers, which is 20 more than the standard transit bus. But you’ll have to get up pretty early in the morning to catch one. The buses will run the 6:15 a.m. Route 10 express from Santa Maria to SLO; the 6:50 a.m. Route 9 express from Paso Robles to SLO and 4:15 p.m. Route 9 express from SLO back to Paso. The used buses were transferred to RTA from Golden Gate Transit in Marin County, where they were used on commuter routes traveling over the Waldo Grade. Good experience for running back and forth over the Cuesta Grade. For more information about RTA’s routes and schedules see: www.slorta.org

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